One Way to Use Your Solar: Keep It All for Yourself

With more homeowners investing in solar energy, the big question arises: Should you rely entirely on your solar system without sending any excess energy to the grid? This approach, often called zero export mode, ensures that all the power your panels generate stays within your home, either being used immediately or stored in a battery. While it offers energy independence, it also comes with unique challenges.

A traditional grid-tied solar system typically allows homeowners to sell excess electricity back to the grid under programs like net metering. However, in zero export mode, your inverter is configured to prevent any backflow of energy to the grid. This means:

• You use only the energy you produce.

• If you don’t use all your solar power, you must store it in a battery—or it goes to waste.

• When solar production is low (such as at night or on cloudy days), you may need backup power like a generator or occasional grid use.

Example: The homeowner want more energy independence

For many homeowners, the idea of complete energy self-sufficiency is appealing. Laura Ryan (www.dailytelegraph.com.au), a homeowner in Newtown, Sydney, decided to go fully off-grid with rooftop solar and battery storage. Dr. Ryan emphasizes "creating a sustainable home encompasses more than just installing solar panels, it involves thoughtful choices." We can imagine a scenario where during a hot summer stretch, her air conditioning drained her battery faster than expected. Then she had to be really careful, or she’d run out of power at night. Maybe she needs to adjust her habits—pre-cooling the house during peak solar hours and running heavy appliances like the dryer only in the middle of the day.

The trade-off?

• Energy Waste – If your battery is full and you’re not using the extra energy, it’s lost.

• Higher Upfront Costs – A solar-plus-battery system is more expensive than a standard grid-tied setup.

• Weather Dependence – A few cloudy days in a row could leave you needing grid power or a backup generator.

This approach isn’t for everyone, but if you:

• Want complete energy independence.

• Have adequate battery storage to cover your needs.

• Are okay with adjusting your energy usage based on solar availability.

• Live in an area with poor net metering incentives or grid limitations.

Then zero export solar could be a good fit. However, if you want a hands-off solar experience with maximized financial returns, a traditional grid-tied system with net metering might be the better option. 

Would you consider running your home purely on solar with no grid export? Share your thoughts in the comments below!